Western Sydney are steeled for an extremely hostile atmosphere in China on Wednesday night.
But Wanderers coach Tony Popovic denies any heat in their do-or-die Asian Champions League (ACL) quarter-final against Guangzhou Evergrande will be fuelled by the controversy of their last match.
ACL title holders Evergrande go into the Tianhe Stadium encounter having lost the first leg 1-0 to the Wanderers and still reeling from the double player suspension and touch-line ban for coach Marcello Lippi that resulted from the explosive clash at Parramatta Stadium.
Last week's red cards to Zhang Linpeng and Gao Lin have robbed Guangzhou of two of their most dependable players, while Lippi has been banished to the stands after storming onto the pitch in protest.
But Popovic insists it will be hurt pride from the defeat that will have Guangzhou and their fans fired up.
"They're a very proud team and have very proud fans and they certainly don't like to lose," Popovic told AAP.
"So, yes we are expecting a hostile environment all round but I don't think what happened at the end of the game has any bearing on that.
"I believe we would have received that regardless."
Wanderers forward Vitor Saba has already been the target of some angry tirades by Guangzhou fans on social media after he was accused of "faking" by Lippi who felt he exaggerated the contact that resulted in Gao's send off.
Popovic hasn't confirmed whether the Brazilian will play on Wednesday but defended his new recruit.
"If you're saying he dived, he's certainly not someone who goes out to do that," Popovic said.
"The fact is there was contact and it was a foul. Whether it was accidental contact or not, that's really a question for the referee, not for Vitor."
Popovic, who feels his side have a "slight advantage" going into the match, doesn't believe the loss of Lippi, Zhang and Gao will do much to hamper Guangzhou and remains wary of the Chinese club, who still have former Italian internationals Alessandro Diamanti and Alberto Gilardino available.
"Obviously Lippi is one of the best coaches in the world. But whether it affects them or not we'll have to see on Wednesday," he said.
"Yes, they've lost a couple of players but they have match-winners all over the park. Their foreigners are fantastic players.
"We know that it's a huge task ahead but we've given ourselves a chance.
"Now we believe the pressure's on them. They're the ones that are expected to go through to the semis."
Whoever advances will face either last year's runners-up, FC Seoul, or 2009 champions Pohang Steelers in the semi-finals.
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